According to U.Today, it has been 14 years since Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin, made his final known post on the Bitcoin forum. On December 12, 2010, Satoshi's last message was posted, and the following day, December 13, 2010, marked his permanent departure from the platform. This event was a pivotal moment in Bitcoin's history, as it transferred the responsibility for the cryptocurrency's development and governance to its decentralized community.
Since Satoshi's disappearance, Bitcoin has continued to thrive, becoming a symbol of the power of decentralized technology. Over the years, it has grown into a multi-trillion-dollar asset class, inspiring the creation of thousands of other cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based applications. Despite the absence of its creator, Bitcoin's journey from a niche internet project to a significant component of global financial infrastructure is remarkable. The cryptocurrency has seen its value rise from a fraction of a cent to $100,000, reflecting its widespread adoption and influence.
The true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto remains a mystery, with speculation ranging from a single individual to a group of developers. However, no definitive evidence has surfaced to confirm any theories. Bitcoin's network has expanded significantly since the Genesis Block, achieving a market capitalization of $2 trillion and surpassing silver in value. It has settled $131 trillion in volume through 1.12 billion transactions, showcasing its substantial growth and impact.
Throughout this period of market expansion, investors have experienced a total of $1.27 trillion in profits and $592 billion in losses on-chain, resulting in a net capital inflow of $750 billion. This highlights the immense value that has flowed into the Bitcoin network over its lifetime. As of December 5, notable aggregate balances included 1.8 million BTC (9.1% of the supply) held on exchanges and 1.1 million BTC (5.6% of the supply) managed by U.S.-based ETFs, indicating significant growth since their launch on January 11, 2024. Additionally, miners, excluding Patoshi, held 700,000 BTC (3.5% of the supply), while the U.S. Treasury possessed 187,000 BTC (0.9% of the supply), demonstrating the widespread distribution of Bitcoin ownership across various entities.
